Nine arrested in DR Congo anti-Kabila protests

Police in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Beni said they had arrested nine demonstrators during a march Tuesday against President Joseph Kabila, a day after clashes in the region that left five dead.

The nine were “from Lucha,” said Lisangi Nkumu, Beni’s deputy police chief, referring to a pro-democracy group, Struggle for Change, which is campaigning for President Kabila to leave office.

“They were demonstrating on the public highway without authorisation,” he said.

Police intervened

“They are being interviewed and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities.”

Lucha campaigner Regina Masinda told AFP that the police intervened shortly after the start of the march and “brutally” manhandled demonstrators who had their hands in the air and had sat down on the ground.